Scotland 2-0 Spain: Scott McTominay doubled again in famous Euro 2024 qualifying win

After getting off to an ideal start to their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign after beating Cyprus, Scotland faced a huge step up from opposition but responded with a sensational display that will live long in the tartan army memory.

Scott McTominay scored early in each half for his second brace in the space of three days as Spain were defeated in a qualifying game for only the third time since 2006. Whether Scotland have beating one of Europe’s heavyweights was pretty impressive, although they did. so worthily will give Steve Clarke the greatest satisfaction.

His side are now two from two in their bid to qualify for the tournament in Germany, already five points ahead of Norway who were seen as the main competition in Group A with Spain for a top two and with them automatic qualification for the next the main event of the summer.

McTominay was brought into the starting lineup after his brace off the bench against Cyprus, and he needed just seven minutes to get back on the scoresheet and give Scotland an ideal start. Pedro Porro’s slide let Andy Robertson in, he picked McTominay and the ensuing shot beat Kepa Arrizabalaga with a deflection.

Ryan Christie nearly doubled the lead with a pushing effort but Scotland were then largely forced on the back foot. Joselu sent a header straight at Angus Gunn and another over the bar, before Rodri nodded from a corner as Spain, unusually, looked the most dangerous going more directly.

There was a real advantage in the game, with Porro booed every time he eyed the ball, the Hampden crowd were unimpressed after he fell clutching his face following a slight Robertson barge. Joselu went on to crumble on more than one occasion, optimistically failing to do justice to the nature of his penalty calls.

Scotland could well have doubled the lead seconds before the break when Lyndon Dykes collected a long ball and got through on goal, but he lifted an effort over Kepa and the bar.

Porro was thankfully substituted at half-time, although any slight Scottish disappointment at the move was offset by another McTominay goal six minutes after the restart.

Kieran Tierney burst down the left wing after collecting the ball, and his cross was only clear to the edge of the box where McTominay ran over it and produced a brilliant finish.

From there, Scotland went into liquidation mode as they ran time, with Aaron Hickey’s decision to step off the pitch to run back while holding his face doing little to improve the mood. of a shaken Spanish team.

The hosts fell deeper and deeper but held on, preventing any late Spanish charge from materializing to seal a famous victory and setting the stage for the tartan army to start firming up their plans for a summer holiday in Germany next year.